WO2010032117A2

WO2010032117A2 - Method to produce and install a reinforcement for constructions, in particular for the construction of road tunnels or such like, and reinforcement thus obtainable

Info

Publication number: WO2010032117A2
Application number: PCT/IB2009/006875
Authority: WO
Inventors: Carmine Melara
Original assignee: Melfer S.R.L.
Priority date: 2008-09-19
Filing date: 2009-09-17
Publication date: 2010-03-25
Also published as: IT1393381B1; ITMO20080240A1; WO2010032117A3

Abstract

Reinforcement (1) for structures made of reinforced concrete, defining a tunnel consisting of a single or double layer of reinforcement portions of the wall (2) and/or the vault (3), disposed distant, cooperating transversely with respect to each other and connecting with contiguous reinforcement portions consisting of attachment portions (4), connection portions (5), transverse bars (6) and longitudinal bars (7). A bearing bed (B) located at the base of the reinforcement also consists of at least a reinforcement portion (40).

Description

"METHOD TO PRODUCE AND INSTALL A REINFORCEMENT FOR CONSTRUCTIONS, IN PARTICULAR FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROAD TUNNELS OR SUCHLIKE, AND REINFORCEMENT THUS OBTAINABLE" ψ * * % Φ

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a method to make and install a reinforcement for constructions, used in particular for building road tunnels or suchlike, and also the reinforcement thus obtainable. In particular the present invention concerns the reinforcements themselves, the application method, and the product, for example the tunnel, thus obtained.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the building trade, the use of structures made of wood or metal is known, known as formworks, consisting of a casing able to house concrete in a semi- liquid form and in which the concrete stays until the end of the setting process.

Once the setting process is over, the solidified structure is able to stand alone and the formwork, having served its purpose, can be removed.

Normally, reinforcement rods or reinforcements are drowned in the concrete, to give the finished product a greater load capacity. These products are called reinforced concrete structures.

With reference to the building of road tunnels, the containing vault of which is made of reinforced concrete, it is known to use reinforcements and particular methods for installing the reinforcement rods.

In particular, after the tunnel has been excavated and the walls have been made impermeable, the reinforcement is suitably formed by connecting the reinforcement rods with respect to each other in proximity to the walls.

Methods for making the reinforcements on site generally provide to anchor the extrados, that is, the external portion of the reinforcement, to the surfaces of the tunnel by means of suitable tie-beams. Moreover, the onsite installation method provides to assemble in the work place each of the steel elements which make up the reinforcement, so as to obtain a complete structure of the reinforcement along the vault of the excavated tunnel. These known methods have considerable disadvantages however. Carrying out on site the operations to assemble the reinforcement in the place where it must be located requires a fair amount of time, and a large number of operators must be used, with a consequent considerable increase in the general costs of building a tunnel and a consequent considerable waste of energy. Moreover, the operations to assemble the reinforcement entail considerable down times between two consecutive casts of cement, with the working day not being used to its full potential. In the case where re-usable formworks are used, not using the day to its full potential creates an imbalance in the handling, use and storage of the formworks. Moreover, the attachment of the extrados of the reinforcement to the walls of the tunnel by means of tie-beams entails perforating the impermeable layer of the walls themselves. This inevitably creates a natural exit way for the water possibly present above the tunnel and consequently promotes the infiltration of water, with all the problems which that entails in the medium and long term, also with regard to the stability of the product.

The main purpose of the present invention is to make pre-fabricated elements of reinforcement for tunnels and suchlike, a method to install said pre-fabricated elements so as to obtain a finished reinforcement, and also to obtain a finished reinforcement, and a tunnel equipped with said reinforcement. The task of the present invention is to reduce the times required for making a tunnel compared with the solutions known at present, to reduce the number of operators normally used during the building of a tunnel, to optimize the work cycles, to economize on times, and to reduce considerably the possibility of infiltrations of water inside the tunnel over time. Another purpose of the present invention is to overcome the cited disadvantages of the state of the art, achieving a simple, rational solution, which is easy and efficient to achieve and use, and also of limited cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claims, while the dependent claims describe variants to the main inventive idea.

According to the invention, finished reinforcement portions are provided specialized for the vault and also, possibly, for the bearing bed of the tunnel. Said portions, already finished, are obtained in an equipped place, for example, a workshop, where they are made according to the design specifications and shaped to a design before being brought to the site where they will be installed.

According to the invention, there are at least two reinforcement portions, in a transverse direction to the axis of the tunnel, for the vault and at least one for the bed.

The number of portions is however determined by various factors such as the means used for making and/or shaping them, transport means, installation means, conformation of the tunnel etc. According to a variant, reinforcement portions are suitable to cooperate with spacer-gripper means extending substantially orthogonally to the reinforcement portions.

According to a first variant, the spacer-gripper means are suitable to be installed on site. According to a further variant, the spacer-gripper means are solid at least with the respective reinforcement portion in the equipped place.

In another variant the spacer-gripper means extending orthogonally extend from the extrados and/or from the intrados.

Another variant provides second reinforcement portions coupled to the respective reinforcement portions.

Another variant provides that the coupling of the second reinforcement portion is made directly on the first reinforcement portion.

Another variant provides that said coupling is made by providing the means extending orthogonally as intermediaries. Another variant provides that said coupling is made in the equipped place.

Another variant provides that the coupling is made after the first reinforcement portion has been installed.

According to the invention, in relation to how the tunnel is made, both in a transverse and a longitudinal direction, at least two reinforcement portions that make up the vault are positioned first in a direction transverse to the axis of the tunnel, that is, first the at least one reinforcement portion that makes up the bearing bed.

According to a first solution, the reinforcement portions are positioned facing each other.

According to a variant, in order to avoid lines of preferential fragility, the reinforcement portions are positioned on each occasion staggered one from the other, so as to create desired deflections, and therefore technical interruptions, to the possible preferential breakages which could happen in relation to the transverse and/or longitudinal connection lines between two adjacent reinforcement portions.

It is therefore in the spirit of the invention to make finished reinforcements using pre-fabricated reinforcement portions. It is also in the spirit of the invention to make tunnels in which the concrete is reinforced continuously with prefabricated reinforcement portions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of some preferential but not exclusive forms of embodiment, using the attached drawings wherein:

- Fig. 1 is a three-dimensional view of a possible reinforcement of the vault according to the present invention;

- Figs 2 and 3 are three-dimensional views showing two steps of a possible assembly method for reinforcement portions according to the invention;

- Fig. 4 is a view showing a possible means used for the assembly of the reinforcement portions according to the invention;

- Fig. 5 is a three-dimensional view of a possible prop which can be used during the assembly according to the invention; - Fig. 6 is a representation in cross section of a reinforcement having first portions, orthogonal means and second portions both in the vault and in the bearing bed;

- Figs. 7 and 8 are details of possible solutions connecting the reinforcements of the vault and of the bearing bed; - Figs. 9 and 10 show a possible assembly method of the reinforcement, in this case using two reinforcement portions and method to make the reinforced concrete;

- Figs. 11 and 12 respectively show lattice- work orthogonal means and a reinforcement portion with orthogonal spacer-gripper means; - Fig. 13 shows a possible assembly method in which the first portions, the spacer-gripper means and the second portions are assembled on site. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME PREFERENTIAL FORMS OF EMBODIMENT

With reference to the drawings, number 1 indicates a reinforcement portion according to the invention which, in the specific case shown, only concerns the vault, in order to simplify the explanation. The reinforcement 1 can be positioned inside a tunnel, in proximity to the internal surface, before the formworks are installed and the cement is introduced in order to make the covering of the vault. The formworks can be of the type which remain in situ or of the re-usable type.

In this case the reinforcement 1 consists, in a transverse direction, of four reinforcement portions, respectively two lower 2 and two upper 3, which are positioned in proximity to the two walls of the tunnel to be covered. The bearing bed B is obtained with at least one reinforcement portion 40.

In particular the lower reinforcement portions 2 can be positioned inside the tunnel, in proximity to the walls, and the base reinforcement portions are provided with a lower anchorage portion 2a, which can be attached to the bearing bed B, which in the case shown has already been completely made. The reinforcement 1 also comprises, in this case, two upper reinforcement portions 3 which can also be positioned in proximity to the vault of the tunnel and provided with two attachment portions 4 substantially opposite and associable with upper portions of the respective lower reinforcement portions 2.

Each lower portion 2 and upper portion 3 comprises, at the end and in a longitudinal direction, a connection portion 5 to facilitate and consolidate the longitudinal connection between reinforcement portions. In this case, the reinforcement portions 2 and 3, according to the design specifications, have transverse bars 6, parallel and distanced with respect to each other, and longitudinal bars 7, parallel and distanced with respect to each other, associated with the transverse bars 6 by welding or by other known techniques.

The reinforcement portions 2 and 3 as well as those cooperating with the bearing bed B are disposed in an equipped and specific place where the individual reinforcement portions are finished and shaped, both orthogonally and longitudinally, coherent with the portion of the tunnel, according to design specifications.

The reinforcement portions are then taken to the place to be installed with the means of transport available. In the place of installment the reinforcement portions, whether they are connected to the vault and/or the bearing bed, are assembled and installed.

These operations can be done manually, with auxiliary machines or possibly with machines specialized for these operations.

When they are being made in the equipped place, for example a workshop, the connection portions 5 of the reinforcement portions 2 and 3 can be made by means of suitable extensions of the longitudinal bars 7, so as to allow coupling with the adjacent reinforcement portions in a longitudinal direction. The coupling between the various reinforcement portions 2 and 3 ( but the same applies to the reinforcement portions which are associated with the bearing bed B) can be made with linear positioning both in a transverse direction and a longitudinal direction

(see Fig. 1) and by providing that the portions are staggered in a transverse and/or longitudinal direction.

In the case where the reinforcement portions are installed staggered, at least the lower portions 2 can be provided having differentiated length and/or transverse width.

The example in Fig. 1 shows four reinforcement portions to create a complete portion of transverse reinforcement 1, but also only two reinforcement portions can be provided, or three, or even more than four.

Similarly, the attachment portions 4 are made by means of suitable extensions of the transverse bars 6, so as to allow coupling in a transverse direction of the reinforcement portions 2 and 3.

The bearing bed B can have closing parapets at the sides which, in this case, have a series of vertically protruding rods Ba to which the anchorage portions 2a are tied. One of the methods for making and installing the reinforcement 1, used for the construction of road tunnels or suchlike, is described below and concerns the making of the vault.

First, the reinforcement portions 2 and 3 are made in a workshop and are subsequently transported near to the excavation of the tunnel and then, in turn, installed.

The reinforcement portions 2 and 3 consist of grids made using traditional rods used in steel structural work to make reinforcements and their shapes, curvature and size are given by the design specifications.

In this case, taking into consideration that in order to simplify the description, the bearing bed B must be taken as already complete in this case with the closing parapets, installation is carried out using the lifting means S and the equipment conventionally used on a building site. We proceed with a first step of installing a pair of reinforcement portions 2 in correspondence with opposite walls of the vault of the tunnel to be covered (Fig. 2).

In particular, the anchorage portions 2a of the lateral elements 2 are attached to the rods Ba protruding from the closing parapets of the bearing bed B by means of the usual structural work techniques and means.

Advantageously, during this first installation step suitable support props 8 can be used, provided with a first end 8a, anchored to the closing parapet or to the bearing bed, and with a second end which can be associated with the reinforcement portion 2. The prop 8 can assume a conformation of the type shown in fig. 5.

With reference to the form of embodiment shown in fig. 5, the second end 8b of the prop 8 is provided with a fork able to be positioned in correspondence with a segment of one of the longitudinal bars 7 of the reinforcement portion 2. The presence of the fork 8b allows a better positioning of the reinforcement portion 2 on the prop 8.

Advantageously the prop 8 can be adjusted in length, possibly by the action of actuator means such as a hydraulic jack or suchlike, so as to allow an easier adjustment of the reinforcement portion 2 with respect to the wall of the tunnel.

The method in figs. 2 and 3 then provides a second step of installing the upper reinforcement portions 3.

The operation to position the upper reinforcement portion 3 can usefully be carried out by means of a support 9, see fig. 4, suitably conformed and associable with lifting means S. In the case shown in fig. 4, the support 9 comprises a suitably shaped frame 10 that defines a supporting surface 11 substantially curved and able to house the upper reinforcement portion 3 which rests upon it.

At the lower part the frame 10 has a pair of supports 12 which can be rested on the ground, and usefully provided with a pair of tubular elements 13 inside which the attachment means of traditional lifting means S can be inserted.

Figs. 4 to 7 show, as an example, the case where the reinforcement 1 is made from two reinforcement portions, respectively internal and external, held in position by spacer-gripper means 23. In fig. 6 a complete reinforcement is shown as an example, consisting of three pairs of reinforcement portions.

In these we can see the lower double reinforcement portions 120 consisting of internal reinforcement portions 21, of spacer-gripper means 23a and of external reinforcement portions 22. In cross section the double reinforcement portions 120 and 130 have attachment portions 4, 4a, 4b shaped according to the design specifications on each occasion.

The internal 21 and external 22 reinforcement portions have shapings according to the design specifications, as have the internal 31 and external 32 reinforcement portions of the upper double reinforcement portion 130.

The upper double portion 130, in this case, has spacer-gripper means 23b (see the example shown in fig. 11) conformed as a lattice.

In the case of fig. 6, the double reinforcement of the bearing bed B consists of internal 41 and external 42 reinforcement portions. The reinforcement portions 41 and 42 in the case shown are held in position by spacer-gripper means 23a and 23c.

In fig. 6, the double reinforcement portion which reinforces the bearing bed B is shown in a single position, while in figs. 9 and 10 it is illustrated in two portions. Figs. 6, 7 and 8 show as an example a possible reinforcement provided in the support parapet (if provided), to reinforce the support parapet and to create the desired connection between the double and lateral reinforcement portions 120 and the double reinforcement portion of the bearing bed B. The reinforced reinforcement in this case creates the protruding rods Ba, as well as the connecting rods Fl, F2 and F3

Figs. 9 and 10 show a possible method to make the bearing bed B, in this case with lateral support parapets. This method allows to not interrupt the work upstream inasmuch as a transit way is always available.

In fig. 9 we see how first half the bearing bed B is made, complete with reinforcements and concrete and then, see fig. 10, the other half of the bearing bed B is made.

Fig. 12 shows a possible template to make the reinforcements manually. In fig. 12 we can see a frame T shaped according to design specifications, with orthogonal bearing rods O and longitudinal ones L on which pairs of pins P are applied, which serve to position the transverse bars 6 and the longitudinal bars 7.

Fig. 13 shows an example of the possible assembly of the components as in fig. 6, the bearing bed B being already prepared. In fig. 13 it can be seen that it is possible to pre-assemble the internal reinforcement portions (21 and 31), then position the spacer-gripper means 23a and/or 23b, then position and attach the external reinforcement portions (22 and 32).

It is also possible to pre-assemble completely the double reinforcement portions 120 and 130 in a workshop.

In practice it has been seen how the invention describes achieves the purposes proposed, and in particular we underline the fact that this embodiment of the reinforcement portions, both single or possibly also double, allows to considerably reduce the times needed to build a tunnel and the number of operators used with respect to the known solutions.

In particular, the operations to assemble the reinforcement entail considerably shorter downtimes between the two successive casts of concrete, with consequent increased production.

Moreover, the invention described above does not require the reinforcement to be attached by means of tie beams to the walls of the tunnel excavated. This allows to avoid perforating the impermeable layer first laid on the walls, thus considerably reducing the possibility of infiltrations of water inside the tunnel over time.

Claims

1. Reinforcement for structures made of reinforced concrete, defining a tunnel comprising at least an upper vault and a lower bearing bed (B), characterized in that said reinforcement (1) at least partly consists of reinforcement portions (2 and/or 3) disposed distant, cooperating transversely with respect to each other and connecting with contiguous reinforcement portions (4, 5).

2. Reinforcement as in claim 1, characterized in that the bearing bed (B) consists of at least a reinforcement portion disposed distant connecting with contiguous reinforcement portions, while the vault consists of at least two of said reinforcement portions .

3. Reinforcement as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the reinforcement portions of the vault (2) and the reinforcement portions of the bearing bed (B) are made solid with each other by reinforcement rods (F, Ba).

4. Reinforcement as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that the reinforcement portions are a single layer.

5. Reinforcement as in any claim from 1 to 3, characterized in that the reinforcement portions, at least when installed, are a double layer.

6. Reinforcement as in any claim from 1 to 3, characterized in that the reinforcement portions, at least when installed, are a double layer with intermediate spacer-gripper means (23 a, 23 b).

7. Reinforcement as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that the reinforcement portions are disposed in uniform order.

8. Reinforcement as in any claim from 1 to 6, characterized in that the reinforcement portions are disposed in staggered order.

9. Reinforcement portions for reinforcements for reinforced concrete defining tunnels, characterized in that they are built in equipped places and are sized and shaped finished according to design specifications.

10. Reinforcement portions as in claim 9, characterized in that on at least two sides they have attachment portions (4) and/or connection portions (5).

11. Method to make a reinforcement for structures made of reinforced concrete defining a tunnel comprising at least a bearing bed (B) and a vault, characterized in that the reinforcement is divided into reinforcement portions (2, 3, 40) extending longitudinally and transversely and comprising overlapping means (4, 5) with the contiguous reinforcement portions (2, 3, 40), said reinforcement portions (2, 3, 40) being made finished and ready for assembly in the tunnel in equipped zones disposed distant.

12. Method as in claim 11₅ characterized in that the reinforcement portions (2, 3, 40) are shaped according to design specifications in the equipped zones disposed distant.

13. Method as in claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the at least one reinforcement portion (40) defining the bearing bed (B) is installed first of all, and then the cement is cast so as to obtain the bearing bed (B) and/or the connected lateral closing parapets.

14. Method as in any claim from 11 to 13, characterized in that, having obtained the bearing bed (B), the reinforcement portions (2) and/or (3) are placed relative to the vault so as to position the formworks and to cast the concrete.

15. Method as in any claim from 11 to 14, characterized in that, having obtained the bearing bed (B), props (8) are positioned so as to support and position at least temporarily at least the lower reinforcement portions (2, 21, 22, 120).

16. Method as in claim 13, characterized in that after having positioned the reinforcement portion (40), the cast of concrete is made relating to at least a longitudinal half of the bearing bed (B).

17. Method as in claim 16, characterized in that after having made the concrete cast^' at least a closing parapet is made with protruding rods (Ba).

18. Method as in claim 17, characterized in that the vault is obtained by positioning a reinforcement portion (2, 3) on the closing parapet and in relation to the rods (Ba), at least two reinforcement portions (2, 3) being required for the reinforcement of the vault.

19. Method as in claim 11, characterized in that at least the lateral reinforcement portions (2, 3) of the vault are provisionally supported and positioned by props (8).

20. Tunnel defined by a reinforced concrete structure, characterized in that the reinforcement of the reinforced concrete conforms to one or more of claims from l to 8.